Shelving



Patented Apr. 26, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. B. O'CONNOR. SHELVING. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 22, mm.

Aurora, in the county of Kane and State of useful Improvement in Shelvings,

shelves for dividing ferent compartments ject is to provide an advantageous form of subshelves.

JOHN B. OCONNOR, OF AURORA,

ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO LYON METALLIC MANUFAC- TURING COMIA NY, 0F AURORA, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SHELVING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr.

Application filed October 22-, 1919. Serial No. 332,461.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JoHN gB. OQoNNoR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Illinois, have invented. a certain new and of which the following is a specification.

My inventlon relates to sheet metal shelving, more particularly of the built-up type used in factories, warehouses, and mercantile establishments. Shelving of this general type, is shown for example, in Waters Patents 91Q,616 and 971,707. The object of my present invention is to provide subshelves and partitions or dividers by which a shelf space may be readily subdivided into sections of various sizes, shapes, and numbers. One of the contributory objects of my invention is to provide a divider which may be removably secured to two adjacent mean the shelf space into diflaterally. Another obsubshelf which may be used as the floor of a sub-compartment in a shelf space.

I accomplish my objects by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawin in which, I

igure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of shelving embodying my invention. One of the shelf spaces of this section is provided with dividers and subshelves made in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation of a. divider or subpartition showing the construction of the foot at the top and bottom by which the divider is fastened to the shelf above and beneath.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view'of one of the feet. g i

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the preferred form of subshelf.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the diflerent ways in which the subshelves may be' mounted. a

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a shelf bracket, and v Fig. 7 is a sectional view illustrating the manner in which the brackets-support the Like numeralsdenote like parts throughout the several views.

form. illustrated, the

In the preferred ably so formed as to 'bin fronts 19 may uppermos main shelves 1, 1 are supported by the main partitions 2, 2 as in the a Waters .patents above mentioned. The particular construction of the main shelves and partitions is non-essential except that under ordinary conditions they are constructed of sheet metal. The shelves are punched at proper intervals as at 3, 3, Fig. 1 for the reception of bolts 4 or similar fastening devices by which the dividers 5 are secured top and bottom. The partitions 2 have a series of apertures 7 arranged equidistantly in vertical rows for receiving the fingers 9, 10 of the shelf brackets 11 shown singly in perspective in Fig. 6. These fingers are prefer,- extend obliquely downward, thereby causin against the side of tl ie main partitions and subpartitions or dividers, the latter also having apertures 7 of the same size and arrangement. The upper ends 12 of the shelf brackets bend upward and inward to support the subshelves 15 in the mannerbest illustrated in Figs. 5 and '7. In the best formthese shelves have end flanges 16 for stiffening the shelf from back to front. They also have a narrow flange 18 at one edge and a wide flange 19 at the other, the latter being commonly known as a bin front. As the lips 12 of the shelf brackets extend obliquely upward and inward, they are able to support the subshelves with the flanges 16 extending either upward or downward. In other words, the lips of. the brackets are so formed as to accommodate the end flanges of the 'subshelves if necessary, and consequently the latter may. be mounted with either surface upward. The advantage of this construction is that the be placed either at the back or the front of the shelving and may extend either upward or downward, the

same being true of the shallow flanges 18 the brackets to wedge front of the shelving. In other words, the

these subshelves are univer- Inountings for the shelf to bemounted with sal, permitting either edge The result is that theuser has forvfiird and with either surface the top and bottom of the subpartitions or dividers 5. Flanges 23 (see especially F ig.

3) are formed at the top and bottom of the divider, these flanges extending horizontally so as to lie tangent with the adjacent shelves. A conically shaped boss or housing 24 is out-pressed from the metal above the flange and a rounded foot 22 struck from the metal in such manner as to extend horizontally in the opposite direction from flange 23. The result is that a flat portion or foot is produced which extends in both directions from the plane of the divider, as best shown in Fig. 2. This foot is apertured to receive a bolt or fastening device 4, previously mentioned. Consequently, the axis of the bolt lies substantially in the produced plane of the divider and hence occupies no appreciable amount of space in either one of the compartments. The outpressed portion 24; furthermore forms a housing which protects the bolt from one side.

As a result of the above described construction, a shelf space may be subdivided in a variety of ways-that is, the number of compartments, their shape, and size, may be greatly varied by varying the number and arrangement of dividers and subshelves employe This enables the user to take ad vantage of practically all the space occupied by the shelving. It will be understood that in some cases large and light boxes are to be stored, whereas in other cases, as for example in tool rooms, small and heavy objects such as bolts and nuts and small tools must be stored. By taking advantage of my invention, the shelving may be adapted to a very wide variety of uses and purposes.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In shelving, the combination with the main shelf and upright partitions for supporting them, of a flat, upright divider consisting of sheet metal and havin a foot for attachment to the main shelf, tTie foot being struck out of the metal of the divider and extending in both directions from the plane thereof and being apertured at a point in the plane of the divider for receiving a bolt or a similar fastening device, the metal of the divider being outpressed for a short distance vertically near said aperture for facilitating the insertion of the fastening device and forming on one side a shield for preventing contact with external objects and on the other side a housing for the same purpose.

2. In shelving, the combination, with the main shelf and upright partitions for supporting them, of upright dividers consisting of sheet metal and having feet top and bottom for-attachment to the main shelf, said feet being struck out .of the metal of the divider and extending in both directions from the plane thereof, the feet being apertured at a point approximately in the plane of the divider for receiving a bolt or other fastening device and the metal of the divider being outpressed for a short distance ver-- tically near said apertures for facilitating the insertion of the fastening devices.

3. Shelving having upright sheet meta-l dividers having feet integral with-the divider and extending in both directions from the plane thereof, each foot having an aperture for the reception of a bolt or similar fastening device at a point approximately in the plane of the divider, and the metal of the partition being conically outpressed near the foot for accommodating a fastening device passing through said aperture.

In witness whereof I .have hereunto subscribed my name.

J OHN B. OC'ONN OR. 

